Monday, May 05, 2008

A quaint but rustic tourist railroad I had only visited once in the State of Wisconsin, has unfortunately closed in recent years.

Seen here simmering away in the small town of Northlake Wisconsin, located 20 miles northwest of the city of Milwaukee...is Kettle Moraine Railway 2-6-2 Prairie Type steam locomotive #9 built in 1901 by the Baldwin locomotive Works.

This engine originally pulled logging trains in northern California for the Mc Cloud River Railroad. The Kettle Moraine Railway was an unfortunate victim of Real Estate Development, and Gentrification. Many new residents, many being "Yuppies" complained about the smoke, noise, and visiting tourist traffic in town.

The Kettle Moraine Railway was no longer wanted in the now upscaling village of Northlake Wisconsin, and closed after declining revenue and complaints from local residents around 2000.

Locomotive # 9, a Heisler locomotive from the Craig Mountain lumber Company, and other equipment, has found a possible temporary home at the National Railroad Museum in Green Bay Wisconsin. At this time, everything is in limbo and future operation of any kind is unclear.